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lliTnn STATES PATENT Tric a.

WILLIAM MOSES \VILLIAMS, OF MIDDLESBOROUGII, ENGLAND.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR OBTAINING COPIES OF PRINTED OR WRITTEN MATTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,442, dated June 15,1897.

Application filed July 14, 1896. Serial No. 599,178. (N0 p imens-l Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Moses WIL- LIAMS, a subject of the Queen ofEngland, residing at l\liddlesborough, in the county of York, England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to theMethod and Means of Obtaining Facsimile Copies of Typed, TVritten,orSimilar Matter, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce copies of typed, written, ormanuscript matter in quantity without the necessity of using a stencil,without inking in the manner usual at present, and without drying theink of the copies. In order to produce this result I prefer to employthree kinds of sheet.

First. A sheet coated with a vehiclesuch as a mixture of gelatin,glycerin, and water, or some other jelly-like or viscous medium withwhich is incorporated a suitable anilin or other dye. For example, thevehicle on this sheet may be composed of one part, by measure, ofasolution of gelatin (eight ounces of gelatin to thirteen ounces ofwater) added to four and a half parts, by measure, of glycerin, thisgelatin and glycerin mixture being boiled together until it loses theproperty of cooling solid and then being supplemented by one part moreof gelatin, added hot. In this vehicle the dye is dissolved in aquantity dependent on its character and the intensity of color desired.

Second. A sheet of paper coated with'the persulfate of iron or with thedouble sulfate of iron and ammonium alum (say, commercial iron alum) orsome other substance possessing the property of rendering the surface ofthe gelatin or jelly-like sheet impervious orless than usually perviousto the anilin color within it when brought in contact with it for a fewseconds. The coating for this Sheet No. 2 may be obtained by making asaturated solution of commercial iron alum in cold water, preferably,but not necessarily, with the addition of a little sugar.

Third. A sheet of tissue-paper coated with a substance, such ashereinafter specified, having the property of neutralizing the hardeningeffect or tendency of the alum or other substance on the gelatin orjelly and of s0ftoning the surface of the gelatinous sheet, so

I as to allow the dye contained in the last-mentioned sheet to giveimpressions of the paper if pressed on the surface. This tissue sheetmust also have the property of yielding some of its coating to Sheet No.2 when the surfaces of the two sheets are placed face to face, and animpression or inscription is made on the tissue-paper either with atype-writer or by means of a style, a corresponding impression from thecoating of Sheet No. 3 being transferred onto Sheet No. 2. The coatingof Sheet No. 3 may consist of various combinations, such as a thin filmof the best soft soap dissolved in methylated spirit,or of common soapwith or without a suitable acid, such as tartaric acid or phosphoricacid, (syrup,) added to soap which has been dissolved in an alcoholicsolution of caustic pot-ash. This latter solution of caustic potash withor without tartaric or phosphoric acid may, if desired, be added to theingredients of the film aforesaid. There should preferably be a suitabledye in this coating to render an impression therefrom readily visible.

The required impression having been made on No. 2 sheet in the form ofcoating material transferred from No. 3 sheet the former (No. 2) sheetis placed in contact with No. 1 sheet for a few seconds and, ifnecessary, dampened on the back with methylated spirit while there. Thelatter is then removed. The parts of the gelatin or jelly-like orviscous sheet not acted upon by the persulfate of iron or the doublesulfate of iron and am monium alum or other hardening agent thus acquirethe property of giving impressions to sheets of ordinary paper pressedon them, all parts of the surface except the writing having beenrendered sufficiently impervious to the coloring-matter to prevent itfrom coming through them during the short period the operation occupies.The methylated spirit will probably not be needed unless very darkcopies are required.

It will be understood that modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. For example, Sheet No. 1 may have itssurface hardened in advance by incorporating the persulfate of iron orthe double sulfate of iron and ammonium alum or the like with it, anordinary sheet of'paper being substituted for No. 2; but

in this case the impression from the tissue paper received by theordinary sheet must be stronger, or if copying is required frommanuscript the original maybe prepared (without No. 3 sheet) by writingon No. 2 sheet with a suitable inkfor example, a solution in methylatedspirit of soft soap or a solution of an alkaline carbonate silicate orother salt or tartaric or phosphoric acid and gum, sugar, or the like.This in operation will be the equivalent of the softening medium carriedon No. 3 sheet.

The medium hereinbefore referred to as employed to neutralize thehardening tendency exerted by the persulfate of iron or the doublesulfate of iron and ammonium alum or thelike and in addition to softenthe gelatinous or jelly-like sheet need not be employed for the latterpurpose in all cases. For instance, the gelatinous sheet, if not toostilt and hardened in places, as described, .by a persulfate of iron oran iron alum surface carrying the record, but left in a soft conditionin other parts, Will not need any softening to render it fit forprinting from.

If any stain or exuded patch of dye exists on the gelatinous orjelly-like or viscous sheet, (owing to excessive dampness of theatmosphere or carelessness in working,) it may be entirely removed fromthe sheet by laying on the latter a sheet of paper slightly damped withmethylated spirit, or the gelatin sheet may be cleaned at the outsetwith methylated spirit.

I claim- 1. In copying apparatus of the kind described, a sheet having acoating of a solution of methylated spirit and soap.

2. In copying apparatus of the kind described, a sheet having a coatingof a solution of methylated spirit and soap, said solution containing asuitable dye.

3. In copying apparatus of the kind described a sheet treated withpersulfate of iron or a double sulfate of iron and ammonium alum or alike agent on which the matter to v be copied is applied in a mediumwhich will neutralize the eifect of said agent upon or' soften thegelatinous viscous or jelly-like sheet.

4. In copying apparatus a gelatinous viscous or jelly-likedye-impregnated sheet of the kind described treated at or about its surface with an agent such as persulfate of iron or a double sulfate ofiron and ammonium alum to decrease the normal perviousness of thegelatinous sheet for the purpose described.

5. In copying apparatus the combination with a gelatinous viscous orjelly-like dyeimpregnated sheet of the kind described of a sheet onwhich the matter to be copied is applied in a medium which Will restorethe normal perviousness of the gelatinous sheet substantially as and forthe purpose described.

6. An ink orwritin g medium of methylated spirit and soap.

7. An ink or writing medium of methylated spirit and soap, and analcoholic solution of caustic potash.

8. An ink or Writing medium of methylated spirit and soap, an alcoholicsolution of canstic potash and tartaric or phosphoric acid.

9. In the art of obtaining facsimile copies ofwritings and the like, theherein-described process which consists in applying the Writing to becopied to a sheet of paper coated with a material adapted to have ahardening action upon gelatin, and said Writing being Written in amedium adapted to protect gelatin from the hardening action of saidhardenin g material, and then pressing the said sheet onto a sheet ofpaper containing on its surface a gelatinous substance impregnated witha dye.

10. An ink or writing medium of an alkaline carbonate, silicate, orother salt or tartaric or phosphoric acid and gum, sugar or the like foruse in obtaining facsimile copies of Writings and the like.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereto set my hand in the presence of the twosubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM MOSES WILLIAMS.

W itnesses:

JOHN WV. 0. LANGFIELD, W. G. SIMPsoN.

